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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Hi, glad to see that this thread is alive an well. It's been a very long time since I posted. I recently had some time to actually practice straight ahead jazz... but lately when I play is I get this "been there, done that" feel. I guess It's hard to get inspired about playing.

I haven't been getting much practice lately. At least not like before. And I miss many days of practice. But strangely enough, I get back on the instrument and I can see regular improvement still.

About the only thing different is that in my minds eye, I'm thinking of things I'd like to change and for whatever reason, it's happening without needing to practice it extensively. Of course, I'm still always gigging but that's not really practice.

Anyway, it's really interesting what's occurring. I'd rather get the practice of course but time isn't on my side right now.

Had a listen. Is it me or is the keyboard player playing a hair fast on Autumn leaves and then a second slow on the Blues block. He is rushing and not playing in the pocket. It doesn't sound in sync, like the rhythm section is trying to catch up. If you guys are just an amateur band playing for fun then it's understandable. Keep at it.

I think part of the delay you are talking about may be coming from the program i am using (Ableton Live). I am putting abersold track on one track and playing keyboard(midi controller) on another track it on my computer, and I am noticing slowdowns/speedup as I play. sometimes it's very noticeable, other times it's hard to tell if it's me or if the tracks are really out of sync.

yah that could be it. didn't realize it was backing tracks. that's probably the "rushing" that I hear. it's not perfectly in sync. If I just listen to your playing and tap the beat then it's in time, but the bass does sound off.

yah that could be it. didn't realize it was backing tracks. that's probably the "rushing" that I hear. it's not perfectly in sync. If I just listen to your playing and tap the beat then it's in time, but the bass does sound off.

Hmm I've had this suspicion about tracks being out of sync.. I guess I'll have to use ditch the midi controller and go back to using keyboard from different audio source. I am glad I've put it to the test here. I also did sped up the backing tracks like 20 clicks too.

I guess I've gotten used to it, and told myself to just keep my own time playing(after all, it's the sort of stuff you've gotta do on gigs somtimes). Don't get me wrong, I do have problem with rhythm tendency to rush and I am doing a lot of rhythmic stuff during the "autmn leaves" solo, but at least while I was soloing, I was pretty sure of where I was rhythmically most of the time

are you playing with the backing track at the same time or just adding the audio in afterwards?

Cause if it's recorded together you'd be able to hear that something is off. I mean honestly I can barely listen to it. the backing track is not that good, I can't hear the drummer on the 2 and 4 and the bass notes aren't precisely on the beat. add in the delay of your playing and it's just grating.

the last track sunflower sounds much better rhythmically. you are playing with the drumbeat and it's clear where the accents are.

are you playing with the backing track at the same time or just adding the audio in afterwards?

Cause if it's recorded together you'd be able to hear that something is off. I mean honestly I can barely listen to it. the backing track is not that good, I can't hear the drummer on the 2 and 4 and the bass notes aren't precisely on the beat. add in the delay of your playing and it's just grating.

the last track sunflower sounds much better rhythmically. you are playing with the drumbeat and it's clear where the accents are.

I used different methods for the two recording. Sunflower, I had the backing tracks on my computer and I recorded live with an actual keyboard, so there shouldn't be any problem there.

The out-of-sync-ness on other tracks seem to happen in different places. Sometimes I hear it while I am playing, sometimes it doesn't sound like a problem until I recorded the whole thing and play it back(so post-processing issue). I am not well-versed in these programs so chances are I am probably not doing it right.

anyways I am going to take down the recording. No point posting something when there is noticeable technical issues with it.

I haven't been getting much practice lately. At least not like before.

Between sitting at the computer scoring for bigband as well as symphonic wind orchestra and cooking dinner for my kids it's been not a gig or jam in sight. But I must that thanks to the Aebersold backing tracks I've managed to get some playing done. There's some excellent playing in the drums and bass!

I haven't been getting much practice lately. At least not like before.

Between sitting at the computer scoring for bigband as well as symphonic wind orchestra and cooking dinner for my kids it's been not a gig or jam in sight. But I must that thanks to the Aebersold backing tracks I've managed to get some playing done. There's some excellent playing in the drums and bass!

That's too bad. No regular Jam around you? I happen to run the jam so I'm guaranteed playtime at least twice a month Maybe you need to start the jam yourself.

My minimum live playing is at least 4x per month.

Well at least your brain is occupied with music so it's probably still good.

Now one unique thing is that I got a call for a solo piano gig. I haven't done those in awhile. However, informally, I always play solo piano as a warmup before the band starts so I suppose it's not much of a concern.

Even though I don't sit on a piano as long, I still do those 5 finger down exercises on a flat surface while I work. I do it constantly so it must help.

For some songs there's lots of 2-5-1 key changes. If you are playing solo piano what would your approach be for left hand chords?

Say the ballad "I Fall in Love too Easily". Key is C major. there are 2-5-1 in A-, E+, D-. I have just been using the standard chord playing the bass note. My brain can't think that fast of weird voicings that mesh well.

If want to add chords between those that are written, I like the system one pianist taught me: to get to a target chord, you can add the big three before most chords:1. The dominant of the target chord.2. The tritone sub of the dominant, which is the dominant a half step up from the target chord.3. A fully diminished chord a half step below the target chord. This is really a rootless dominant with a flat 9.

For some songs there's lots of 2-5-1 key changes. If you are playing solo piano what would your approach be for left hand chords?

Say the ballad "I Fall in Love too Easily". Key is C major. there are 2-5-1 in A-, E+, D-. I have just been using the standard chord playing the bass note. My brain can't think that fast of weird voicings that mesh well.

Are you talking here of voicings? Subs? Or what to do with the LH?

Which I should ask anyway... What are you doing with the LH? Are you playing a stride style? Two-handed voicings? Occasional bass note + rootless? Walking bass?

I thought I'd share a little what I've been up to lately; arranging and orchestrating some tunes, etc for symphonic wind orchestra and piano trio (alas, not me on the piano) It's a professional orchestra, so I'm very lucky in getting some really heavy players.

Another example. It's from a middle section of an original tune (its for the same concert as above; tomorrow evening actually . . . ). The wood-winds play softly and the piano trio blows over these changes. C#m9 | DMaj7 | G#m11